Journey of Washington Accord – A Tribute to Contributors

Journey of Washington Accord – A Tribute to Contributors

On 23rd day of June 2017, Pakistan became the 19th signatory of prestigious Washington Accord as announced during its conference held in Alaska. It is a big achievement which culminated through years of efforts by the PEC. Pakistan was represented by the PEC delegation headed by Engr. Jawed Salim Qureshi, Chairman PEC. Other worthy members of the delegation included, Dr. Niaz Ahmad Akhtar and Dr. Nasir Mahmood Khan both of whom are senior engineers working with PEC. Dr. Niaz Ahmad Akhtar is Vice Chairman and Convener of Engineering Accreditation Qualification Equivalence Committee, whereas, Dr. Nasir Khan is Additional Registrar of PEC. Their efforts were supported by all the professional engineers of Pakistan.
This article attempts to take you along through the journey of Washington Accord from June 2010 till the final destination in June 2017. Engineering Cap feels proud in paying tribute to all contributors who toiled day and night to bring the engineering education standards at par with international benchmarks.
The Washington Accord is an international agreement among the engineering bodies of member countries accrediting academic engineering program at university level, leading to the practice of engineering at the professional level. In terms of this agreement, each engineering body accepts the accrediting processes of the others. The Washington Accord recognizes substantial equivalence of engineering education among member countries, hence, engineering graduates are accepted and can practice as engineers in other countries. Membership of Washington Accord is recognition of the standards and quality of engineering education offered by the member countries. In Pakistan, PEC has been accepted as engineering body of world class category maintaining standards of engineering education in line with international standards.
On June 25, 2010, news was released from Ottawa, Canada, which stated that “Pakistan enters the prestigious Washington Accord as provisional member”. Pakistan was accepted as provisional member of Washington Accord which would facilitate mobility of engineering graduates and professionals of Pakistan at international levels.

June, 2009 – Kyoto, Japan: A two member delegation of PEC constituting Engr. Dr. Muhammad Akbar and Engr. Dr. Nasir Mahmood Khan represented Pakistan, for the first time, in the International Engineering Alliance (IEA) meeting in June, 2009 at Kyoto, Japan. PEC officials gave presentation to signatories of Washington Accord, on the PEC accreditation process and subsequent registration of graduate engineers. The purpose was to prepare grounds for getting provisional membership of Washington Accord.

25th June, 2010 – Ottawa, Canada: The proposal for Pakistan’s membership was placed by the PEC delegation comprising of Engr. Senator Rukhsana Zuberi, Chairperson PEC, Engr. Prof. Fazal A. Khalid, Engr. Dr. M. Akbar and Engr. Dr. Nasir M. Khan before the meeting of Washington Accord signatories. Pakistan was declared as the provisional member of Washington Accord at the conclusion of said meeting. Pakistan would now be getting mentoring support from other signatory member countries to get a full signatory status.

Year 2013– The 15th World Engineering Congress was organized in Islamabad- Pakistan where delegates and researchers from around the globe participated. Mr. Mamnoon Hussain, President of Pakistan chaired the event.

Workshops were arranged throughout the country in collaboration with Higher Education Commission to educate faculty of engineering institutions and program evaluators regarding outcome based education and assessment system of accreditation.